Des Moines, IA: shortest day and earliest sunset
The shortest day in Des Moines
On Dec 21 the sun rises at 7:38 am and sets at 4:48 pm: 9h 10m of daylight, a moderate winter. The longest day of summer has 15h 12m, so the swing is 6h 02m.
When it gets better in Des Moines
- Earliest sunset: 4:44 pm on Dec 8, before the shortest day (here is why).
- Latest sunrise (standard time): 7:41 am on Jan 3.
- Back above 10 hours of daylight: Jan 31.
- By Feb 21 the days grow by 2.7 minutes a day.
Waking and coming home in the dark
With a 7:00 am alarm, the sun is not yet up on 113 weekdays a year. Heading home at 5:30 pm, it has already set on 65. 56 weekdays start and end in the dark. The alarm and lamp guide shows how that compares across the country.
At 41.6°N this sits between Sarasota FL (27°N, 1.4%) and Nashua NH (43°N, 9.7%) in a 1990 survey of winter depression by latitude.
What to do about it in Des Moines
- A sunrise alarm clock is worth getting here: on 69 weekdays the sun is still at least 20 minutes from rising at 7:00 am. Dark mornings run from Sep 21 to Mar 30, so set it up before Sep 21.
- There is some case for a light therapy lamp: 56 weekdays start and end in the dark. If you notice winter low mood, ask a doctor whether one fits you.
- If you head home at 5:30 pm, the sun has already set from Nov 2 to Jan 29: worth checking your bike lights and porch light before Nov 2.
Daylight in Des Moines, month by month
Sunrise, sunset and day length on the 21st of each month, local clock time. December is the darkest, at 9h 10m.
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| July 2026 | 5:59 am | 8:43 pm | 14h 44m |
| August 2026 | 6:29 am | 8:05 pm | 13h 35m |
| September 2026 | 7:01 am | 7:13 pm | 12h 12m |
| October 2026 | 7:33 am | 6:24 pm | 10h 51m |
| November 2026 | 7:11 am | 4:50 pm | 9h 39m |
| December 2026 | 7:38 am | 4:48 pm | 9h 10m |
| January 2027 | 7:36 am | 5:16 pm | 9h 41m |
| February 2027 | 7:01 am | 5:55 pm | 10h 54m |
| March 2027 | 7:16 am | 7:28 pm | 12h 11m |
| April 2027 | 6:26 am | 8:01 pm | 13h 36m |
| May 2027 | 5:50 am | 8:33 pm | 14h 43m |
| June 2027 | 5:40 am | 8:52 pm | 15h 12m |
Des Moines against the places around it
On the shortest day, compared with Des Moines (9h 10m, sunset 4:48 pm):
- Pleasant Hill, IA, 6 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:47 pm (-1 min).
- Norwalk, IA, 8 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:48 pm (0 min).
- Altoona, IA, 9 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:47 pm (-1 min).
- West Des Moines, IA, 9 mi away: 9h 10m of daylight (0 min), sunset 4:48 pm (0 min).
- Urbandale, IA, 10 mi away: 9h 09m of daylight (-1 min), sunset 4:48 pm (0 min).